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The ACLU is objecting to a recent decision to restore the image of a cross in LA County's official seal, claiming that the inclusion of a religious symbol is inappropriate. But the Board of Supervisors insists that the cross s significance is historical, not religious. John Cádiz Klemack reports from Downtown LA for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014. (Published Thursday, Feb 6, 2014)

Updated at 10:59 PM PST on Thursday, Feb 6, 2014

In the latest battle over the separation of church and state, the ACLU of Southern California has filed a lawsuit challenging a decision by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to restore a cross to the county's official seal.

In the lawsuit filed Thursday in federal court, the ACLU claims adding the religious symbol violates the constitutional guarantee of the separation of church and state.

Church and State Debate Immigration Issues

The Archbishop of San Francisco and Assemblyman Tom Ammianohave decided to work together to get a federal program changed or suspended that checks the immigration status of people who are booked into jails. (Published Sunday, Jan 29, 2012)

Supervisors voted 3-2 last month to put a cross atop the seal's depiction of historic San Gabriel Mission.

Demonstrators Fight for Rubidoux Cross, Targeted in Lawsuit

Father Josiah Trenman of St. Andrew Orthodox organized a march that drew hundreds of supporters Tuesday to plead with the Riverside City Council to fight a lawsuit targeting the 35-foot cross at Mount Rubidoux. The legal battle focuses on the cross’ position on public land, which opponents say violates separation of church and state. Jacob Rascon reports from Riverside for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. on Jan. 15, 2013. (Published Tuesday, Jan 15, 2013)

“Supervisors Antonovich and Knabe have attempted to get around our constitutional guarantee of separation of church and state by claiming that the cross is a symbol of history, not religion,” said Mark Rosenbaum, chief counsel of the ACLU SoCal. “But Mr. Antonovich and Mr. Knabe are historians in the same way SNL’s Father Guido Sarducci is a priest. These supervisors have exacerbated the constitutional slap at all religions by reinserting a Christian cross on the seal by means of a Pinocchio-style fib.”

Supreme Court Debates Prayer in City Council

The separation of church and state is questioned after city council meetings in Orange County begin with prayer. This practice is now an issue before the Supreme Court. Vikki Vargas reports from Aliso Viejo for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov, 6, 2013. (Published Wednesday, Nov 6, 2013)

The original seal had a cross over the Hollywood Bowl, but it was removed when the seal was redesigned in 2004 after the ACLU threatened legal action.

The latest redesigned seal went into effect on Friday.

Knabe said in a statement that he was disappointed over what he called a “frivolous” lawsuit.

“Our motion to add the cross to the County seal was in the name of historical correctness, not political correctness,” Knabe said.